Flow-meter



i L. A. SHELDON.

FLOW METER.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 18,1938.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

2 1 g i 17%. -31 V 6... k1

Inventor'- Lucian .2 1. Sheldon, 9 ./%wr M H i s- 0 1 ttor'neg.

6 State of sure difference creating device UNITED. sTAT'Es PATENTOFFICE.

LUCIAN A. SHELDON, OF SGHENEC'IADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELEC-TRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

I 'LOW-METEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lntcnicd Nov. 23, 1920.

.lpglicatlon filed July 18, 1918. Serial No. 245,441.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,- Looms A. SHIFXQON, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Schenectad in the county of Schenectady,

N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flow-Meters.

The present invention relates to flow meters of the U-tube type whereina. presloc ted in a conduit through which the flui to be metered flowsis connected by suitable pipes to the leading and trailin sides 0 the-tube instrument, thus sutnecting the two U legs of the U-tube to apressure difference w ic h bears a definite relation to the rate of flowof fluid through the conduit, thereby causing a deflection of theindicating liquid contained in the U-tube. Such deflection is thentransmittedto suitable indicating or indicating and recording mechanism.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved U-tube instrumentembodying mechanism for multiplying the deflection of the liquid in theU-tube before it is transmitted to theindicating or indicating andrecording mechanism so that for a small change in the deflection of suchliquid 2 large movement is available for use in connection with theindicating or indicating and recording mechanism.

As is well known, the rcssure differences set up by a pressure di erencecreating device are not a strai ht line function of the rate of flow anda urther object of my invention is to provide an improved arrange mentin which the indicntingsinstrument will have a uniform s ale.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention,attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a U-tubeindicating instrument embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a section takenon line 2 2 Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showinga modification.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates :1

base containing a chamber 6. and 7 indicates a tube which extends from apoint within chamber fito a oint well a ove it. In

chamberfi is a suitable indicating liquidS,

as mercury, and as is well understood this it forms a known type ofU-tube, the tube 7 therein and in the trailing leg of the U-tube is astem 12 having at its upper end a circular rack 13 which meshes with :1small pinion 14 on a shaft 15. On shaft is is a pointer 16 which movesover a scale plate ii. The upper end of stem 12 is guided in itsmovements by a roller 18 carried by a suitable frame 19 supported by abracket 20. Movement is transmitted from the annular float 11 to stem 12through a multiplying arrangement so that a smell vertical movement ofthe float will effect a relatively large vertical movement of the stem.This result may be accomplished in various ways but preferably I utilizea multi )lying gearing. n the present instance the oat is provided withthree depending racks 21 which mesh with pinions 22 on short shafts 23.Shafts 23 are carried on suitable pivot screws 24. and on each of themis a gear wheel 25 which meshes with a circular rack 26 on the lower endof stem 12.. As the float 11 rises and lowers such movements will betransmitted to stem 12 through inions 22 and gear 25 and the amount wich the movements are multiplied will of course depend on the relativediameters of the gear wheels and inions. With the structure illustratedthe mse 5 may with advantage have the contour shown in Fig. 2.

As already stated, the pressure difference set up by a pressuredifference creatin device 15 not a straight line function 0? the rate.of flow and in order to correct for this and thereby obtain a uniformscale I provide on the lower portion of stem 12 a suitably shapedenlargement27 which is. mersedto a greater or lesser extent in theliquid 8 according to the liquid deflection, thereby varying theproportion of the deflectiun which takes place in the leading leg andhence the amount of movement of Host 11.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification in which the liquid deflections inthe U-tube are transmitted electrically. To this end an enlargement 27corresponding to enlargement 27 of Fig. 1,is provided with a ipluralitof vertically spaced contacts 30 rom w ich lead conductors 31 containingsuitable resistanccs 32 and connected to a common conductor 33 whichleads to a suitable indicating circuit. In the present instanceconductor 33 is connected to an ammcter 34 and one side of a source ofcurrent 35, the other side being connected by a conductor 36 to theliquid 8 in chamber 6. Enlargement 27 is arranged above the indicatingliquid 8 and the float 11 is so connected by; racks 21 to pinions 22 andgear wheels 25 t at the float l1 and stem 12 move simultaneously in thesame direction; that is a lowering of float 11 lowers stem 12 and anupward movement of float 11 raises stem 12. The movement of stem 12 andhence of enlargement 27 is therefore always in a direction opposite tothat of the deflection of the liquid in the trailing leg 7 of theU-tube, and hence the relative movement of enlargement 27 and the liquidin the trailing leg 7 is the sum of their individual movements.

In operation, as the float 11 moves vertically the enlargement 27* is toa greater or lesser extent immersed in the liquid 8, which may bemercury. As it moves into the liquid 8, resistances 32 are successivelyconnected in arallel thus decreasing the resistance of the indicatingcircuit and increasing the flow of current; as it moves out of theliquid the re sistances are successively cut out of parallel, thusdecreasing the current flowing in the indicating circuit.

Owing to the large relative movement of the enlargement 27 and theliquid 8 which results from the above arrangement, the contacts 30 canbe spaced without difliculty a suflicient distance apart ina verticaldirection to inakc them distinctive and to permit of indicating smallchanges in flow. The shape of enlargement 27" is such'as to give auniform spacing of contacts 30 for equal changes in flow whichcorresponds to obtain ing a uniform scale as pointed out above inconnection with Fl l and 2.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of m invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof,but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising a leading leg. and atrailing leg, a float in one leg, a movable element in the other leg,and means connecting the float and element together which efl'ects amultiplication of the movement which the float transmits to the element.

2. In ad indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising an annular chamberand a vertical tube, an amn lar float in said chamber, a verticallymovabe stem in said tube, and means connecting the float to the stemwhich effects a multiplication of the movement which the float transmitsto the stem.

In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising an annular chamber anda vertical tube, an annulhr float in said chamber, a verticallymovable'stem in said tube, and multiplying gearing which connects thefloat to the stem and through which movement is transmitted from the oneto the other.

4. In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising an annular chamberand a vertical tube, an annular float in said chamber, a verticallymovable stem in said tube, and means connecting the float to thestemgvhich effects a multiplication of the move; t which the floattransmits to the stemat e contour of the passage formed between the stemand the inner wall of said tube being such as to give equal movements ofthe stem for equal changes in the flow of the fluid being metered.

In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising a leading leg and atrailing leg, a float in one leg, a movable element in the other leg,means connecting the float and element together which effects amultiplication of the movement which the float transmits to the,element, and indicating means actuated by the movements of said element.

6. In, an indicating instrument, a Utube comprising an annular chamberand a vertical tube, an annular float in said chamber. a verticallymovable stem in said tube, means connecting the float to the stem whicheffects a multiplication of the movement which the float transmits tothe stem, and indicating means actuated by the movements of said stem.7. In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising a leading legand atrailing lcg. a float in one leg, a movable element in the other leg,and means connecting the float and element together whichefl'ec ts amultiplication of the movement which the float transmits to the element,said connecting means being so arranged as to move the element in thesame d rection the float moves;

8. In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising aleading leg and atrailing leg, an indicatin fluid therein, a float in one leg, a move leelement in the other leg,

vertically spaced electrical contactson said A which effects amultiplication of the movement which the float transmits to the element,said means moving the element in the same direction in which the floatmoves.

10. In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising'a leading leg and atrailing leg, a float in one leg, a movable element in the other leg,vertically spaced electrical contacts on said movable element, and meansx connecting the float to said element so that 15 the float moves theelement in a direction opposite to that in which the indicating fluid insuch other leg moves, the contour of the passage formed between saidelement and the inner wall of the leg in which it moves being such as toive equal movements of the element for equfi changes in the flow of thefluid being metered.

11. In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising a'n annular chamberand a vertical tube, an annular float in said chamber, a verticallymovable stem in said tube, means connecting the float to the stem whichefi'ects a multiplication of the movement which the float transmits tothe stem and an enlargement on said stem so shaped that it fonnswith theinner wall of the tube a pas- Sage of such contour that equal changes inthe rate of flow of the fluid being metered result in equal movements ofthe stem.

12. In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising an annular chamberand a vertical tube, an annular float in said chamber. It verticallymovable stem in said tube, an enlargement on said stem so shaped that itto forms with the inner wall of said tube a a vertically movable stem insaid tube, an enlargement on said stemso shaped that it forms with theinner wall of said tube a passage of such contour that equal changes inthe rate of flow of the fluid being metered result in equal movements ofthe stem, spaced electrical contacts on said stem, an indicating circuitconnected to said contacts, and means connecting said float to said stemwhich effects a multiplication of the movement which the float transmitsto the stem.

14. In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising an annular chamberand a vertical tube, an indicating fluid therein, an annular float insaid chamber, a vertically movable stem in said tube, an enlargement onsaid stem so sha ed that it forms with the inner wall of sait tube apassage of such contour that equal changes in the rate of flow of thefluid being metered result in equal movements of the stem, spacedelectrical contacts on said stem, an indicating circuit connected tosaid contacts, and means connecting said float to said stem which movesthe stem in a direction opposite to that in which the indicating fluidin the tube moves.

1:). In an indicating instrument, a U-tube comprising an annular chamberand a vertical tube, an indicating fluid therein, an

annular float in said chamber, a vertically movable stem in said tube,an enlargement on said stem so shaped that it forms with the inner wallof said tube a passage of such contour that equal changes in the rate offlow of the fluid being 'metered result in equal movements of the stem,spaced electrical contacts on said stem, an indicating circuit connectedto said contacts, and means connecting said float to said stem whicheffects a multiplication of the movement which the float transmits tothe stem and moves the stem in a direction opposite to that in which theindicating fluid in the tube moves.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of July,1918.

LUCIAN A. SHELDON.

